Owning a Chunk of Permafrost

Hey-O, here's to the first entry of 2014.

The days are getting longer.  The weather has been unpredictable.  Sometimes it is a lot below zero, other days it is above.  It all comes down to whether or not you've got the right gear.  Any temperature is bearable as long as you have the correct clothing.  Yes it is a pain undressing from inside gear, then re-dressing in layers, then covering up in more winter shells, gaiters, masks and boots.  Still, it sure beats the relentless rain and wind from the Aleutians.

Currently we are in the process of buying a home.  One of the places that we looked at had permafrost at a depth of 30 feet.  What that means is well, as long as it doesn't melt, you're house shouldn't sink.  What causes permafrost to melt, shift, or expand is beyond me.  Still though, it is unsettling when you're putting a few hundred thousand down on a house built directly above it.

Another issue of home buying, at least in the Fairbanks and North Pole area is iron and arsenic levels in the water.  People residing in town have city water, folks in the hills generally have holding tanks and the homes are referred to as "dry" meaning a water truck comes by and fills your tank as needed.  To save money, some people drive to water stations with giant holding tanks in their pick-ups and fill it themselves.  At first the idea of not having a well was totally out of my comfort zone.  All I could think was rationing water...  Then, when looking at a place in North Pole, another issue arose from pollution created by a fuel refinery, sulfolane (a lethal chemical used to process gasoline, jet fuel, and others) .  Perhaps having potable water that you know is safe rather than playing a Russian roulette, so to speak, with poisoned water might be the way to go.  Either way home owning versus renting seems more practical.

Moose three houses down.  I realize the clarity similar to that of Sasquatch sightings, but let me tell you about this guy.  I was walking the pup one morning around 9:00 and I was chased by him or his brother!  Initially, I had noticed tracks that had looked fresh.  I kept walking the boy not thinking I was in danger until, my eyes followed the tracks into a nearby yard and was involved in a chase.  I had run with the dog, whom was oblivious to the chase, and then paused...  The moose continued to follow me, granted it wasn't running, it had been galloping.  Imagine Bullwinkle galloping at your heels.  It was a nightmare.  Yet as I ran I wondered if anyone would witness me getting stomped.  Stinking moose!

Kona is growing up to be a very long boy.  We keep wondering how  big he'll get.  Currently he is tipping the scales 34 pounds.

A glimpse of the Yukon Quest race.  It starts in Fairbanks and  goes  to Whitehorse, Yukon in Canada.  Notice the dog booties, mushers are required to have them for their dogs along with extras. 

Brent Sass, one of the mushers.  He recently got hurt and is out of the race.

Cross country skiing after work with the school's ski club on Friday.  It turned out to be a lot of fun.  Kids certainly are fearless.  Two boys kept falling and screaming, I'm not sure if they were related or best buds, either way they were so cute to watch.